FIFA World Cup 26™ Kansas City

Day(s)

:

Hour(s)

:

Minute(s)

:

Second(s)

KC2026 Human Rights Action Plan

FIFA World Cup 2026™ Human Rights Action Plans

The FIFA World Cup 2026™ is the biggest single-sport event in the world. This year FIFA will host the tournament across Canada, Mexico and the United States in 16 Host Cities, with 104 matches scheduled over 39 days. This will be the largest FIFA World Cup™ in history, with 48 qualifying teams, up from 32 teams in prior tournaments.

Hosting the FIFA World Cup represents a historic milestone and achievement for the host countries and Host Cities, with substantial social implications. It presents opportunities to build legacies that will span generations. As with any mega-sporting event, challenges should be anticipated and addressed during the tournament’s life cycle.

Further, FIFA World Cup 2026 Host Committees have a limited scope of operational jurisdiction, which does not include the FIFA World Cup stadium grounds, which are managed by FIFA during the exclusive use period, nor systemic issues that transcend FIFA World Cup 2026™.

In order to mitigate the potential negative impacts and maximize positive ones, FIFA integrated comprehensive sustainability and human rights requirements, including labor rights, into the bidding process. This is the first edition of the tournament which included such requirements in bidding regulations and hosting agreements from the very beginning. In line with FIFA’s human rights requirements, Canada, Mexico and the United States submitted the United 2026 Proposal for a United Human Rights Strategy, and the cities across North America that competed to host the FIFA World Cup developed human rights proposals during the 2019-2022 bid phase. These materials were developed in consultation with key human rights stakeholders and laid a strong foundation for the subsequent phases of human rights due diligence for this tournament.

FIFA used the materials and learnings from the bidding process to inform the FIFA World Cup 2026™ Sustainability and Human Rights Strategy, which outlines the key objectives and initiatives that FIFA and Host Committees will respectively pursue, and the FIFA World Cup 2026™ Human Rights Framework. This framework provides guidance developed by FIFA for the 16 Host Committees and Host Cities that were selected in 2022, highlighting 20 salient human rights issues that Host Committees and Host Cities were encouraged to address when developing their customized action plans. The strategy, framework and action plans are guided by the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and are anchored in robust stakeholder engagement.
FIFA has led on national and international engagement, and local Host Committees, including KC2026, have led the local consultation processes.

FIFA and the FIFA World Cup 2026™ Human Rights Advisory, comprised of independent North American human rights experts, offered feedback on the action plans, which are living documents and may be updated to reflect evolving information, needs and situations. It is important to note that the measures outlined in these action plans do not constitute or create legally binding commitments; rather, they represent a public demonstration of good-faith efforts and the exercise of human rights due diligence in connection with the hosting and staging of FIFA’s flagship tournament. The Human Rights Action Plans have been developed to establish tangible steps Kansas City FWC26 Human Rights Action Plan 3 aimed at mitigating and, where possible, preventing potential adverse impacts arising within the operational jurisdiction of the FIFA World Cup 2026™ Host Committees and Host Cities.

The Host Committees have devoted extraordinary effort over the past seven years to produce these action plans. FIFA would like to extend its deep gratitude to the three host nations, 16 Host Committees, the FIFA World Cup 2026™ Human Rights Advisory and the countless human rights stakeholders who have contributed to these human rights action plans and who are working to make this edition a beautiful celebration of the beautiful game.

KC2026, the nonprofit organization leading Kansas City’s hosting efforts, has spent three years preparing the region for one of the largest sporting events in the city’s history. KC2026 is coordinating transportation, safety and security, volunteer operations, FIFA Fan Festival, Marketing, Community Engagement and Business readiness for the tournament activities in Kansas City.

This plan addresses the risks and opportunities identified by regional stakeholders and details planned actions to mitigate those risks across several key areas:

  • Safeguarding
  • Human Trafficking
  • Inclusion and Non-Discrimination
  • Workers’ Safeguards
  • Access to Remedy

The KC2026 plan will differ from other host cities because each city differs in laws, regulations, existing programs and initiatives. Additionally, each plan was developed with input from local stakeholders, identifying specific issues to address.

This plan has multiple targeted actions to address key risks identified. Some of those include:

  • Responsible Contracting Policy, Venue Code of Conduct and Fixed and Mobile Safety Stations at the FIFA Fan FestivalTM and within the “Last Mile”.
  • KC Game Plan – a regional small business readiness initiative to help more than 11,000 local entrepreneurs and small enterprises be prepared and positioned to benefit from the economic opportunities associated with the FIFA World Cup 2026™.
  • Anti-Trafficking Training and Awareness in partnership with local, state and federal agencies.
  • Ensuring access for those with disabilities at KC2026 event venues including FIFA Fan Festival™ and ConnectKC26 transportation services, including addressing mobility and service animals.
  • Sustainability initiatives at the FIFA Fan Festival including food waste reduction and management.